Kent State Interns

Detecting Nutrient Deficiencies with NFPE The process of conducting a Nutrition Focused Physical Exam, or NFPE, begins with an overall observation, head-to-toe examination, functional indicator assessments, and concludes with a patient interview. NFPE can be used to detect malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, which can be especially useful in the geriatric population. The geriatric population has a unique set of nutritional needs; they require less energy but often the same amount of vitamin and mineral nutrients as a younger population. Other challenging aspects of this population include medications, cognitive impairment, and differences in environment through the lifespan. For identifying vitamin D and calcium deficiencies, it is important to look at histories and risk factors, such as history of falls, broken bones, muscle weakness, dental caries, hypertension, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, depression, and chronic pain. Dietitians should consider height changes, sun...

Diet and Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a very costly illness for both patient and caregiver. Drugs used to treat this disease may not be very effective or may result in undesirable side effects. Genetics do not account for all variance in the disease, therefore environmental interventions, such as diet and nutrition, may impact the prevention and course of the disease. Dietary interventions are one of the most feasible and effective ways to prevent age related illness, and the Mediterranean diet is thought to be especially protective against AD. Studies examining the effects of the Mediterranean diet on AD risk must meet certain criteria to be considered sound research. First, the study must consider whether the diet used follows the guidelines of a strict Mediterranean diet (high monounsaturated fat to saturated fat ratio, moderate alcohol, limited dairy and meat products, high fruit, vegetable, cereal, and legume intake). The closer the diet is to a true M...

RDNs in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers With an alarming number of Americans meeting the criteria for substance use disorder (SUD), a cost of over 50 billion dollars, and an increasing number of deaths, substance use disorders have gained much attention.   Many studies have reported several micronutrient deficiencies of those involved with substance use and in treatment programs.   These deficiencies could be due to the inadequate food intake or the poor absorption and metabolism of the nutrients. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are needed as part of the treatment team to help facilitate recovery.   In 1990, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published a position paper, however, it did not have much power advocating for incorporating RDNs into rehab programs. Other studies have shown a preference for sugary, low-fiber junk food among drug users due to the reward centers of the brain, poor gastrointestinal function, and constipation. ...

Protect Your Cells with Antioxidants   Antioxidants help protect our healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are substances produced by normal body functions (breathing, physical activity, etc.) that attack healthy cells. It is dangerous when these healthy cells are attacked because they become more susceptible to cardiovascular disease and cancers. Antioxidants include vitamins C and E, and carotenoids. Carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein are the leaders in reducing free radical damage, preventing certain cancers, and decreasing muscular degradation. Main sources of carotenoids include dark-green, red, and orange vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Vitamin E is another antioxidant that protects our cells from damage and therefore preventing cancer, heart disease, and cataracts. Vitamin E antioxidants can also work together with those found in vitamin C to offer protection from cer...

All About Gut Health   It is clear that the importance of keeping a healthy gut microbiota has increased over the last few years. Although many people have heard of prebiotics and probiotics, is it clear what they do? To put it simply, prebiotics feed our good gut bacteria. They are non-digestible food components that promote growth and therefore improve gastrointestinal health. Consuming bananas, onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, and whole-wheat foods are great ways to incorporate more prebiotics into the diet. Probiotics are the actual good bacteria that are naturally found in the gut. These bacteria work to balance the gut flora by repopulating it. The gut has a very large effect on our immune system, and having a healthy gut flora is beneficial for immunity and overall health. Probiotics are commonly found as live cultures in dairy foods such as yogurt, kefir, and aged cheeses. Non-dairy probiotic options include kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, and tempeh. It is ul...

Adult weight change and risk of colorectal cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition   Colorectal cancer is of high prevalence among both men and women.   Worldwide, it is the third most common cancer in men and second most common in women.   Gaining weight during the middle stages of life increases the risk of developing chronic diseases and declining health.   It is also important to identify the source of the obesity as it relates to risk.   Waist circumference is better at identifying abdominal obesity compared to body mass index (BMI), which identifies overall obesity.   Higher body weight is one of the risk factors of colorectal cancer risk.   This study examined the association among middle-life weight change and the risk of colorectal cancer.   Other colorectal risk factors were also assessed, including smoking, physical activity, red and processed meat consumption, fiber, and alcohol.   T...